One out of every six children struggles with hunger, according to Feeding America. When a child goes through the day not knowing from where their next meal will come, their ability to succeed - mentally, physically, academically and economically - is severely diminished. In fact, hungry children often have difficulty learning, are sick more often, and prone to behavioral problems. No child should worry about their next meal.
Each September, Citizens Bank joins hunger relief organizations across our footprint and around the country in recognizing Hunger Action Month, a month-long effort to raise awareness and a call-to-action for all of us to help end hunger. In Rhode Island the need is real - 12 percent of Rhode Islanders, 51,000 households, are food insecure, meaning they are often unsure from where their next meal will come due to lack of resources. At Citizens Bank, we lead a year-round effort to end hunger through our Citizens Helping Citizens Fight Hunger initiative. Our colleagues donate thousands of pounds of food through an annual company-wide food drive and give more than 5,000 hours of volunteer service to local food banks and other food programs. We have partnered locally with the Pawtucket Red Sox and Cox Communications on a program called Striking Out Hunger in support of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
Since the campaign started eleven years ago, Striking Out Hunger has raised more than $760,000 for the Food Bank. These funds have helped the Food Bank to acquire healthy, nutritious food that is distributed to thousands of Rhode Islanders.
I’m proud of the work being done but as the need in our communities grows so, too, must our efforts. I hope you’ll join me this Hunger Action Month and all year in committing to help fight hunger and make sure our children have the healthy, happy future they deserve. Together, we can help them reach their potential.
Barbara Cottam is Rhode Island market executive and head of corporate affairs, Citizens Bank.
